Latching means for hand bags



Oct. 2, 1934. 1 HTER 1 975,163

LATCHING MEANS FOR HAND BAGS Filed June 20, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l \W IIIIIII l I Z/ v JGJZ'PH LIGHTER 1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 2, 1934. LICHTER 1,975,163

LATCHING MEANS FOR HAND BAGS Filed June 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 2, 1934 1,975,163 LATCHING MEANS FOR HAND BAGS Joseph Lichter, Norwalk, Conn, assigncr to The Harlic Bag Company, South Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application June 20, 1934, Serial No. 731,447

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to latching means for leather and leather-like receptacles and more specifically to latching means for ladies purses and pocketbooks.

l I The main object of the invention resides in the provision of a latching structure amazed to the upper and open edges of a receptacle wherein said edges are made to completely close or completely open.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a structure which comprises a minimum number of parts easy to assemble and accessible for purposes of replacement.

Another object of the invention resides in the lprovision of a latching structure wherein the manually operated element slides over a relatively long distance thereby preventing accidental actuation for opening and closing purposes. A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a structure which is readily applicable to handbags having other means of latching or closure.

These objects and other incidental ends and" advantages of the invention will hereinafter be described in the progress of this disclosure and aspointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing a preferred and an alternate form of the invention, corresponding reference characters designate cor- 0 responding parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional View of a handbag with the open edges thereof provided with the invented structure.

Figure 2 is an alternate preferred form of Figure 1 having an inner slidable member substantially H in cross-section.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal oblique sectional view partly in plan of one end of the latching assembly indicated in Figure 1 showing the turned 0 in end flanges of a channel member and a slidably superposing latch member therein.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the latching device with the operative edges of the handbag in open position.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal the plane 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the latching parts in operative position.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal oblique sectional view mTpa-rtly in plan of one end of the latching assembly indicated in Figure 2 showing the turned in end flanges of a casing and a slidably superposing latch member therein.

In accordance with the invention and in ac- -cordance with the accompanying drawings, nu-

sectional View along merals. 22 and 23 rep-resent the end portions of the leather or leather-like material 24 and 25 com prising the body of a handbag while 10 and 11 represent the reinforced open and parallel longitudinal edges of the same. edge 11 and projecting inwardly therefrom is aifixed a longitudinal channel member or casing 12 having inwardly extending flanges 18 along. the upper wallthereof and having closed ends 18' formed by the projection of the side walls of the said channel member 12, the said projections designated by numeral l8 being inwardly turned to form end closures. Intermediate the length of channel member or casing 12 is a short opening. 12a extending from the inner wall of the channel member or casing intermediate the height thereof to the width of the bottom wall of the said casing, as best seen in Figures 1 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Slidably disposed within casing 12 is a longitudinal sliding element 16 being preferably U shaped in cross section and having inwardly turned end abutments 16. The inwardly turned flanges 18 at the ends of channel member 12 are adapted to act as stops for the longi tudinal sliding movements of inner slidable member 16. Proximate an end of the said inner slidable member 16 is an opening in the flooring thereof 16a, being adapted to coincide with the opening 12a when the said inner slidable member 16 approachessuch position for purposes of latching edges 11 and 10 of the handbag.

Adapted to slide in the longitudinal slot formed by inwardly turned flanges 18 of casing 12 is an outer slidable member having a head portion 19, aneck'portion 20 and a base portion 21. The base portion 21 of the outer slidable member being free to move along the longitudinal slot of casing 12 and being mounted therein by virtue of head and neck portions 19 and 20, serves to carry inner slidable member 16 to either end of the easing 12 when the said base portion 21 contacts end abutments 16. When the base 21 of the outer slidable member contacts end abutments 16' at one end of member 16 such that openings 16a and 12d coincide, reinforced edge 10 of the handbag is in a position to contact reinforced edge 11 of the handbag such that a latching member fixed intermediate reinforced edge 10 serves to form an insertable flooring for the opening 12a in the casing 12. The latching member comprises an operative head 14, a flooring portion 13 and an upward- 1y curved flange portion 15. The flange 15 of the latching member is adapted to serve as an external curvature with respect to inner slidable no Upon reinforced 60 i y member 16, as best shown in Figure 6, such that when the inner slidable member 16 is caused to move in the opposite direction opening 16a is no longer directly above curved flange portion 15. The latching member thereby is locked in position by the inner slidable member 16. Inner slidable member 16 retains its displaced position in casing 12 by frictional engagement therewith, while the outer slidable member retains its displaced position in casing 12 by a lesser degree of friction,

Figure 2 shows an alternate form of the structure shown in Figure 1 wherein the slidable member 16 is substituted by a slidable member 16'', which latter is H shaped in cross section and wherein the flanged and curved portion 15 of the latching member is substituted by an upwardly extended and straight flanged portion 15.

It is seen that a latching mechanism is provided by the above described structure wherein a casing is provided having a slidable member disposed therein, and an outer slidable member riding within the upper wall of the said casing and being consecutively free and in engagement with the inner slidable member. The sliding actions all take place within casing 12 thereby eliminating accidental obstruction thereto. In order that the opening and closing of the hand bag be eifectuated, the outer slidable member must be displaced from one end of the casing to the other. The pressure on the outer slidable member for movement within the inner slidable member is slight until the end abutments of the said inner slidable member are engaged at which time greater pres- I sure is required.

I wish it understood. that minor changes and variations in the integration, shapes and material of the several parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Fastening means for a pair of parallel frame members which are movable into closed relation, comprising a longitudinal casing fixed along an opening therein for communication with the entrance opening of the said casing, an outer slidable member mounted within the slot of the "casing and having substantial relative movement with respect to said inner slidable member and being adapted to carry the inner slidable member when engaging the end abutments thereof to the outer longitudinal limits of the casing, a lug on the other frame member adapted when the frame members are closed and when the outer slidable member is at one limit of the casing to pass through the entrance opening of the casing and the opening of the inner slidable member to a position where on shifting the outer slidable member to the opposite end of the casing, the inner slidable member will engage the lug whereby to secure the members in closed relation.

2. Fastening means for a pair of parallel frame members which are movable into closed relation comprising: a longitudinal casing fixed along one casing, a lug on the other frame member adapted to pass through the superposed openings of the casing and inner slidable member when the outer slidable member is at one limit of the casing, the said lug being secured in place by the inner slidable member when the outer slidable member is at the opposite limit of the casing.

3. Fastening means for a pair of parallel frame members which are movable into closed relation comprising: a longitudinal casing fixed along one member, the said casing having a longitudinal slot in the upper face thereof and an opening intermediate the length thereof, an inner slidable member having engaging stops near and on the opposite ends thereof and an opening adapted to communicate with the opening of the casing when in juxtaposed position, an outer slidable member mounted within the slot of the casing and having substantial relative movement with respect to said inner slidable member and being adapted to carry the inner slidable member when engaging the stops thereof to the outer longitudinal limits" of the casing, a lug on the other frame member adapted to pass through the superposed openings of the casing and inner slidable member when the outer slidable member is at one limit of the casing, the said lug being secured in place by the inner slidable member when the outer slidable member is at the opposite limit of the casing.

JOSEPH LIGHTER. 

